The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Hawkeye Mountain from the Alexander Valley offers sweet blackberry, loamy soil, new oak, and spice notes. It is more concentrated as well as more tannic than the Trace Ridge Cabernet.

A brilliant 1,500-case Syrah, the 2007 Highland Estates Syrah Alisos Hills is from a hilltop vineyard with southwest facing slopes. It reveals an inky/purple color, sweet blackberry, graphite, and charcoal notes, dense, full-bodied flavors, and long, sweet tannins in the finish.

The 2006 Merlot Howell Mountain is a dense ruby/purple-tinged wine displaying notes of crushed rocks, black raspberries, cherries, and white chocolate.

Made in a modern, progressive, less classic style than its siblings, it is still very Californian in its opaque ruby/purple color, with a big, sweet kiss of toasty oak intermixed with ripe fruit, low acidity, and sweet tannin. From high elevation Napa vineyards, it is a big wine that should drink well for 10-15 years.

The serious Cabernets start with the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Trace Ridge, which demonstrates once more the high potential for Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, especially when grown on hillsides. This classic Cabernet possesses plenty of black currant, licorice, cedar and spice characteristics.

Kendall-Jackson's Highland Estates is also showcasing some very fine Pinot Noirs...The 2007 Highland Estates Pinot Noir Los Robles exhibits sweet fruit, herbs, pomegranate, and sweet and sour cherries, plenty of flavor, lush tannins, and a fleshy mouthfeel.

The seductive 2006 Merlot Taylor Peak exhibits attractive coffee bean, berry fruit, and smoky characteristics. Made from 100% estate grown fruit, and aged 17 months in 100% French oak, it is all that a Merlot should be.

Some serious vineyards' fruit is included in this wine, which no doubt explains the big, tropical fruit-scented nose, fine acidity, and medium to full-bodied flavors. It is an amazing Chardonnay for the price.

The 2007 Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay is entirely made from estate fruit. This cuvee seems to get better with each vintage as winemaker Randy Ullom is a virtuoso at producing such high quantity/high quality wine. Notes of melons, honeysuckle, and lemon oil along with remarkable flavor and texture are found in this wine.

The 2006 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits sweet black currant fruit intermixed with toasty oak, crushed rocks, tobacco leaf, and licorice. Medium to full-bodied with good minerality as well as a heady finish, it can be consumed over the next 10-12 years.

Kendall-Jackson's Highland Estates is also showcasing some very fine Pinot Noirs...The dark ruby-colored 2007 Highland Estates Pinot Noir Seco Highlands displays a cool climate, crisp minerality, steel black cherry and strawberry notes, and abundant structure.

Kendall-Jackson's Highland Estates is also showcasing some very fine Pinot Noirs...The 2007 Highland Estates Pinot Noir Anderson Valley reveals the blueberry and raspberry characteristics that come from this area, along with a touch of spring flowers.

There is only a small quantity of the inky/purple-colored 2006 Grand Reserve Syrah which offers chocolatey, blackberry, charcoal, pepper and earth notes.

A wine that should rekindle consumer interest in Merlot is the 2006 Grand Reserve Merlot. Plenty of seductive, chocolatey, black cherry, and berry fruit emerge from this deep ruby/purple-hued, medium to full-bodied, 100% Merlot. With good depth, a silky texture, and a heady finish, it should drink well for decade or more.

The cherry, mocha and chocolate-scented 2006 Vintner's Reserve Merlot is also quite good.

The 2006 Vintner's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the finest examples of this wine I have tasted. It exhibits good elegance as well as a spicy, berry, black currant, roasted herb, and spicy oak-scented nose.

We also enjoyed Kendall-Jackson Meritage, which had hints of cassis and licorice. It was bright and juicy with enough tannin at the end to work with a steak.

With the massive honeyed sweetness, this dessert wine is easy to enjoy, but it has more going for it than just that. There are also polished apricot, pineapple brûlée and vanilla custard flavors.

Actually from a smallish block of a large vineyard in this rocky, cool part of Salinas Valley, this Pinot shows a silky structure, velvety tannins and crisp acids. The flavors are rich and savory, suggesting cherries, cola, vanilla, smoke and mint.

Juicy and jammy, with aromas and flavors of black cherry, pepper, toast and caramel. Approachable.

This seems like classic Alexander Valley Cabernet, which always gives off an intriguing, foresty, piney scent to accent dark cassis and plum aromas. Its flavors are all in the blue and purple fruit spectrum, with an herbaceous background note that gives the wine elegance and complexity.

In my experience, it's rare Chardonnay that manages to display rich, succulent, mouth-filling flavor while at the same time offering crisp acidity and a firm structure - the best of both worlds, if you will. Well, this one does just that. It tastes opulent but feels refreshing, a delectable combination.

Rich, ripe and complex, with tropical fruit; tart finish.

The cool climate of California's Sonoma Coast gets this wine crisp, concentrated pear flavors to complement its smooth vanilla notes. Pair with creamy pasta dishes.

This mountain Cab, blended with a little Petit Verdot and Syrah, is grown at 2,400 feet in the Mayacamas Mountains, which provide the east wall of Alexander Valley. The wine is know to be an ager, and the '04 should develop for many years. It's a tremendous wine, the equal of almost anything from Napa, which, after all, is just a geographic boundary away. Fabulously concentrated in cassis, currant, smoky cherry, licorice and chocolate flavors, its tannic structure is nearly perfect.